Japan Lawmakers Discuss Options for Allowing Casino Businesses

Entrepreneurs who are looking to start a casino business in Japan might be interested in knowing that a bill that would legalize casinos was resubmitted on January 26. Gambling legislation in the country has already been discussed a couple of times, and has also been delayed.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe explained that he is in favor of boosting the country’s economy by allowing gaming companies to start casino businesses in Japan. Up to now, gaming providers such as MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands Corp have already expressed their interest in opening gambling establishments in the country. Up to now, gaming insiders predicted that a land-based casino would be opened in Japan sometimes before the Summer Olympic Games, which take place in Tokyo in 2020.

Lawmakers have already stated that if operators start casino businesses in the country, Japan would take advantage of several benefits, which include boosting the tourism sector and eventually helping the economy. Even so, several regulators have expressed their concern about how gambling addictions would affect the population of Japan.

Lawmakers are especially concerned that such behavior would appear due to the already high rates of gambling addiction, caused by the traditional Japanese pachinko game, a sort of pinball gambling game.

More than that, the Union Gaming Research LLC in the United States estimates that no land-based casinos would be opened in Japan by 2020. The firm has issued a report which states that the development of new casinos in the country would not bring the benefits that lawmakers expect.

In the reports, it is explained that casino resorts would be developed in Tokyo or Osaka, which are already visited by a large number of tourists. This way, the areas that already need development, such as under-visited regions of Japan, would not benefit from the construction of casinos near Tokyo or Osaka.

Like so, the Union Gaming Research suggested that operators should start casino businesses in areas that are under-visited, in order to encourage tourism.